THE FISH TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3881, 31 July 1928, Page 76

THE FISH TRADE.

GRIEVANCES OF VENDORS.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Otago Fishmongers' Association was held last week, Mr T. Clarkson presiding. The opportunity of meeting the Chief Inspector of .Fisheries (Mr A. E. Hefford), that the meeting provided, was taken bv a L-r<m number of fish vendors from the citv and suburbs. -

- A comprehensive statement of the present position of the fishing industry was made by Mr D. Minnock, the secretary of the association, who said- that all the proposals to be brought before the meeting were practical, and would stand investigation. They would mean more fish, lower prices, increased consumption of a tirst-rate foodstuff, more employment, and general assistance to the industry. Mr Minnock drew attention to the supply of groper from Port Chalmers. A considerable number of years ago, he said, the fishermen's Society at Port Chalmers restricted the supplies of groper for Dun®din, so much so that only 36 groper per boat were allowed to be sent to Dunedin There were 50 boats at Port Chalmers; and it 30 of them were catching groper the result was 5001 b per boat (the average is 141 b), and the daily catch 15,0001 b. However, the boats only fished four days a week to supply the Dunedin market, and this brought down, the possible catch per week to 60,0001 b, instead of a possible 90.0001 b. This catch was distributed among 100,000 people, and was equal to less than half a pound of groper per head of the population per week. res^r ' c tion, which is enforced by the Port Chalmers Fishermen’s Society, is crippling the local supplies,” continued Mr Minnock. “ Combined with the unsatisfactory shipping facilities, it has an effect in the non-development of an export trade which w-ould be of material advantage to the Dominion, and to Dunedin in particular. As a result retail prices are artificially increased, and the industry is not in the flourishing condition it should be. These restrictions have been in operation for a long time, and no thought has been given to the growth of population. This association has suggested to the Port fishermen that the restrictions should be modified, but nothing has been done. Therefore the public must be content to pay or to make 'a move in some direction. It is interesting to note that no restrictions are enforced on fish sent elsewhere. Dunedin is the only city in the Dominion where restriction of supplies is in operation.” Mr Hefford prefaced his remarks by saying that he was not the Government, P u t recognised that the fishing industry in New Zealand was in need of development. The department would be only too pleased to assist in any way possible. With reference to the groper supplies, he thought that it would be advisable to hold i meeting of representatives of all sections of the trade and discuss the whole question of supplies, so that matters might be arranged to suit all parties. ’ While the Acclimatisation Society has done good work in connection with salmon,” said Mr Minnock, " we believe that it has outlived its purpose. We would suggest that the Government should take over the control of this most important section of the fishing industry. There can be no reasonable argument put up against the proposal to commercialise salmon (quinnat and Atlantic). We would like to make a practical suggestion to the effect that, for a period of three months (say, April, May, and June) a license be granted for ,the lease of one-mile stretches in the principal rivers of the Dominion, where netting could be carried on. Salmon would then be a marketable proposition and a valuable asset to our food supplies. A retail license would also be granted, thereby bringing in a new source of revenue.”

Mr Hefford made an interesting statement in connection , with salmon, but considered that the time was not yet ripe for the commercialisation of salmon. With a little patience and perseverance, however, it would come. Mr Minnock said that the Acclimatisation Society was overstepping its purpose with regard to whitebait. Should the proposals of the society be upheld, the people would not be able to obtain whitebait. In effect, that would mean less for the. people, more food for the trout, and an indirect subsidy to sport. Mr Hefford said that it was their duty as a Government department to conserve the supply of whitebait, and they were taking a deep interest in this particular section of the industry. The following resolution was passed unanimously:—“That this meeting respectfully requests the Government to consider the advisability of setting up a joint council of the fishing industry, the council to . comprise a representative of the Fisheries Department, of the fishermen, trawl owners, fishmongers, and wholesale . merchants for the purpose of conferring and acting in an advisory capacity with respect to the development of the fishing industry both from the local and export aspects.” Mr Hefford was accorded a vote of thanks for his remarks.